| ESTIA is a research and innovation project that aspires to develop a comprehensive platform allowing forecast, detection and management of incidents that are related with the risk of structural fires within cultural heritage settlements and sites. In Greece and generally in Europe, there are numerous historic towns and settlements that feature a dense and unplanned development of the urban fabric, as well as a traditional building construction methods based on flammable and vulnerable materials. The implemented traditional structural system that is based on the use of flammable materials, results in an increased risk of a fire incident. Additionally, due to their significant historic and cultural identity, these settlement groups are usually frequented by visitors and tourists throughout the whole year. However, their densely constructed urban areas as well as the unplanned development of traditional settlements and historic city centres, impedes the intervention of first responders and the evacuation of inhabitants and visitors. Thus, a structural fire incident within these densely constructed and populated areas may result in human casualties as well as in significant and irreversible material and structural damages, leading to substantial financial losses. ESTIA, aims a) to enhance the management and preservation of the cultural heritage, b) to limit the risks of fire incidents within traditional settlements and cultural heritage sites, c) to provide the responsible authorities with training, coordination and support for the effective response to fire incidents, d) to effectively protect and guide inhabitants and visitors, e) to suppress the structural damages in historic buildings, historic settlements and cultural heritage assets, f) to support and promote cultural events and tourism in harmony with the cultural heritage preservation particular requirements. By incorporating an advanced system that predicts the development of complex phenomena (i.e. fire propagation and crowd behaviour), the platform is an effective tool that on one hand assists the responsible authorities in assessing the fire related risks and on the other hand offers training to first responders and field officers. Additionally, the platform offers an effective fire incident management system that includes fire-detection capabilities and a specialised Decision Support System, making it a valuable asset for the responding authorities during the development of a fire-incident. |
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